DataTopic LCA

Lifecycle Assessment data structure

List of LCA impact indicators

Caption text

IndicatorKey	Indicator(eng)	Definition	ValueUnits
LCAGHG	Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions	Measures the emissions of GHGs, often expressed in terms of CO2 equivalents	kgCO2e
LCAWTR	Blue Water Footprint	Quantifies the consumption of surface and groundwater resources	SQM
Example	Example	Example
Example	Example	Example
Example	Example	Example
Example	Example	Example
Example	Example	Example

• GHGE - Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions, Measures the emissions of GHGs, often expressed in terms of CO2 equivalents (kgCO2e).
• BLUEWATER - Blue Water Footprint: Quantifies the consumption of surface and groundwater resources (cubic meters).
• ENERGYUSE - Energy Use: Assesses the total energy consumption, often distinguishing between renewable and non-renewable sources (megajoules or kWh).
• EUTRHOPPOT - Eutrophication Potential: Indicates the impact on aquatic ecosystems due to excess nutrients (like nitrogen and phosphorus), measured in kg with two indicators Nitrogen Emissions or Phosphorus Emissions, N or P.
• Acidification Potential: Measures the potential of substances to cause acid rain (measured in moles of H+ or equivalent).
• Ozone Depletion Potential: Assesses the impact on the ozone layer (measured in kg CFC-11 equivalent).
• Resource Depletion: Evaluates the depletion of natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable (measured in kg of resource).
• Waste Generation: Quantifies the amount and type of waste produced (measured in kilograms or cubic meters).
• Toxicological Impact: Assesses the potential toxic impacts on human health and ecosystems (measured in comparative toxic units).

Value Units and Unit Of Measure

Value units are the units related to the LCA indicator (e.g. for GHG Emissions this is kgCO2e) and the Unit of Measure is to define for what quanity this value applies (e.g. per meter, per kg or per piece). For units the Unified Code for Units of Measure is used to create UnitKeys for exahnge data.

Units

• MTR | meter
• SQM | Square meter
• CMB | Cubic meter
• KG | Kilogram
• LTR | Liter
• PCE | Piece
• TI | Trade Item
• KGCO2E | Kilogram CarbonDioxide equivalent
• MJ | Megajoule
• KWH | Kilowatt-hours

This first example of a data point is for: The Greenhouse Gas emissions are 3,2 kgCO2e per 1 kg product (for example for raw materials in food like salt or flour) measured at the warehouse of the seller, identified by GLN 1234567891023 (SRD= Ready for Dispatch)

• IndicatorKey: GHGE
  • IndicatorValue: 3,2
  • IndicatorValueUnit: kgCO2e
  • UomQty:1
  • Uom:kg
  • LCATerm: SRD
  • PointofOrgin
    • GLN: 1234567891023
  • DestinationGLN:
    • GLN: 7834567891023

Second example The Greenhouse Gas emissions are 2,7 kgCO2eq per consumer unit (TradeItemID, for example for a can of 8 hotdogs), the value included the transport emission to the buyer (e.g. retailer) since the LCAterms are Delivered at Buyer (DAB), and value is based on location 7834567891023 (GLN)

• TradeItemID
  • GTIN: 2365897158624
• IndicatorKey: GHGE
  • IndicatorValue: 2,7
  • IndicatorValueUnit: kgCO2e
  • UomQty:1
  • Uom:CU {Consumer Unit}
  • LCATerm: DAB
  • PointofOrgin
    • GLN: 1234567891023
  • DestinationGLN:
    • GLN: 7834567891023

You can combine this data with the weigth & dimensions data for this Trade Item. In the example below a can of 8 hotdogs

• GrossWeight: 500 gr
• NetWeight: 450 gr
• DrainedWeight: 300 gr
• TaraWeight (packaging) = 500 -450 = 50 gram
• 8 Pieces
• 4 Portions

Now you can calculate:

• GHG Emissions per Kg product including packaging, based on gross weight: 2,7kg/0,5 = 5,4 kgCO2eq per kg product
• GHG Emissions per Kg c, based on gross weight: 2,7kg/0,5 = 5,4 kgCO2eq per kg product